Game apparatus



June 18, 1935. c. R. KIRK Er Al.

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1955 2 sheets-sheet l1 a a T June 18, .1935. c, R KIRK Er AL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ClaudeR Kirk Edwaraf blll'on .H lll/36 Patented June 18, i935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lison, Chicago, Ill.,

assignors to Standard Ticket Games Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 26, 1935, Serial No. 3,542

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a game apparatus.

This application is a continuation in part of our Ycopending application, Serial No. 732,776, filed June 28, 1934, now Patent No. 1,973,815,

dated September 18, 1934, on a Game apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved game apparatus which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efcient inA use.

Another object of the present application is to claim, per se, certain features shown and described in our aforesaid patent.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device, not shown in our aforesaid patent, for permitting operation of the coin slide and associated apparatus if, for any reason, such, for example, as wear on the parts of the apparatus which control the score-printing operation and web-severing operation, the operations of printing the score of the game and severing the printed ticket from the web or body of the same should take place before the total number of balls allowed the player for the insertion of a proper coin into the coin aperture of the coin slide has been played, so that, in this event, the player or proprietor of the game apparatus with which the present invention is associated may elevate the remaining balls up to the level of the playing surface, thereby locking the ball elevating device; and then insert another coin into the coin aperture of the coin slide and operate thevlatter to reset the apparatus back into its initial position ready for play to be resumed thereon, it being understood that in the apparatus shown in our aforesaid patent, the coin slide cannot be operated until the last ball has been played.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a 'game apparatus similar to that shown and described in our aforesaid patent;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view on line 2-2 in Fig. l, showing in ineffective position, part of the new device embodied in our present invention and not shown in our aforesaid patent, for permitting operation of the coin slide and associated apparatus if the score-printing and web-severing operations should take place before the last of a predetermined number of balls allowed the player for the insertion of a coin into the coin slide has been played;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts moving into effective position;

Fig. e is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 but showing the parts in effective position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on line 5 5 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 in Fig. 1; Fig. '7 is a sectional View on line -l in Fig. l; Fig. 8 is a sectional View on the line 8-8 'in Fig. l;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on line 9--9 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail View of the score printing and websevering device.

A game apparatus similar to that shown in our aforesaid patent is shown in the drawings, is generally indicated therein at Il, and coinprises a cabinet I8 within which is arranged a rotatable score-recording or printing drum l2, a rotatable registering or score-indicating dial i3, and mechanism for operating the said drum and dial; the cabinet I3 including an inclined playing board which is provided with ball exit or scoring openings 56 by means of which the played balls are conducted into inclined runways 5l which are arranged below the inclined playing board 55.

Arranged within a housing I4 in the cabinet ll is a rotary ball elevating disc l5, the disc l5 being operated by means I6, etc., (shown in our aforesaid patent) and including the hand lever il which projects exteriorly of the cabinet IB for operation by the player.

Carried by the rotary elevator disc i5 on the inner lateral side thereof (left side, Fig. 5) are a cam i9 and a laterally projecting arm or stop member 20 (Fig. 5).

Mounted on a horizontal shaft 2l which extends transversely across the cabinet i3 below i the playing surface of the latter is a latch or stop arm 22 which has an angled or laterally extending end portion 23 (Fig. 5) which is adapted to ride the surface of the cam i9 as therotary elevator disc l5 is operated. This angled end portion 23 of the stop member 22 projects through an opening 'M which is formed in the wall of the elevator housing Hl (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) and when the rotary elevator disc l5 comes into position to elevate the last of a predetermined number of balls allowed the player for a proper coin inserted into the coin aperture of the coin slide 24, the angled end portion 23 of the latch arm 22 engages the edge or surface 13 of a laterally projecting latch arm or lug 29 which is carried by the disc l5 and thereby locks the elevator disc i against further operation or rotation (clockwise, Figs. 2, 3 and 4).

It is desirable to permit operation of the coin slide 24 and associated apparatus if, for any reason, the score-printing and web-severing operations, iexplained more fully in 'our .aforesaid patent, yshould take place prior to the time that the last of the predetermined number of balls allowed the player has been played. This may occur from, or caused by, wear on those .parts of the apparatus, such as the ratchets 5'3 and '62, which control the score-printing and 'web-severing operations.

To this end we mount on the inner fwall vof the elevator` housing lli a latch member 25, which is pivotally mounted at its lower end on the ele'- vator housing as at 2li, and this latch member 25 carries a laterally projecting pin 26 (Fig. 5) which works in an opening 29 that is formed in a wall of the elevator housing I4; this pin 26 -being adapted to ride the cam I@ carried by the elevator disc l5.

The latch member 25 is pivoted (counterclockwise, Figs. 2, 3 and 4) by the action of gravity and the extent of its movement is limited by the engagement of its laterally extending pin 26 with the walls of the opening 29. The coin slide 24 has a pin and slot connection 3l (Fig. 9) with a slide bar 32 and the latter is, in turn, pivotally connected, as at 34, to the upper end portion of a link 33, the latter being mounted at its lower end upon a horizontal shaft 35 which is arranged in the cabinet I8.

Mounted on the shaft 2i which carries the stop member 22 (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 'l and 9) is a coin slide latch member 3E which is provided with an elongated slotl 3l, the latter having a notch 38 at one end thereof, and carried `by the link 33 and movable in the slot 31 is a laterally projecting pin 39.

y uWhen the stop member 22 and its supporting shaft 2l are disposed in the position of Fig. 2 and the coin slide 24 is in coin-receiving position, the .pin 39 is disposed in the notch 38 of the latch member 36 vand the latter is disposed in horizontal position (as in dotted lines, Fig. 9), and when so disposed the engagement of the pin 39 in the notch t8 prevents inward movement (right to left, Fig. 9)y of the coin slide 24, and in this position of the parts the stop member 22 is disposed as in Figs. 2 and 3.

Carried by the shaft 2l and depending therefrom (Fig. 7) is an arm 40 and engageable With the lower end portion of this arm 4B is a cam 4l which is arranged on a horizontal shaft 42 which is arranged in lthe cabinet '.I8. Mounted on this shaft l2 is a disc 43 to which is eccentrically connected, as at 44 (Fig. 9), one end portion-of an arm 45, the other end portion of the arm 45 being connected to a pin 46 which works in a slot 48, the slot Q9 being formed in a vertical supporting wall 49 which is arranged in the cabinet i8; this pin 46 being carried Yby a pivoted pressure or impression-transmitting member 4l by means of which the imprint-receiving Web 5D is forced into printing engagement with the printing drum I2, as more fully set forth in our aforementioned patent; the pressure -member 412also lfunctioning to sever the printed portion of the web 59 fromthe bodyfof the same, approximately at the same time (or slightly before -or after, as may be desired) that the score-.printing `operation takes place, whereupon the printed and severed portion of the web falls onto an inclined chute 52 (Figs. 8 and 10) and is dispensed to the player by way of a dispensing outlet formed in the cabinet I8 (not shown).

As the played balls travel down the runways El (Fig. 6') they pass into a chute 58 from which they fall onto an arm 5U of an escapement dog "69, .the dog :6:0 having 'an "a'rm $64 which engages with 'the teeth of -a ratchet 53 which is arranged upon a horizontal shaft 63 (Figs. 6l and 9); the dog 60 also having an escapement arm 64 which engages with the teeth of a ratchet '62 which is also arranged upon the shaft 63 adjacent the .ratchet 5'3 but is somewhat smaller in diameter than the latter.

Arranged upon the shaft 63 is a tensioned operating vSpring "65 (Fig. l) and an arm 66, the arm 66 bei-ng lengageable with one end portion of a pivotal latch member 61 and the latter having an arm 59 which is engageable in a notch `6B formed in the periphery of the disc 43 (Fig. 9).

After the ratchets y53 yand 62 have .been advanced a predetermined circumferential -distance by operation of the spent playing balls l) upon the ldog 59-B0-5|-64, the arm 64 of the dog 50 engages an uninterrupted, or smooth surface `H which is formed on the periphery of the ratchet 53 (Fig. 6), whereupon the spring 65 rotates the shaft -63 (clockwise, Figs. 6 and 9). This movement-of the shaft 63 causes the arm 66 thereon to Aengage the dog 61, thereby pivoting the end portion 69 of ythe latter yout of latching engagement with the notch 68 in the disc 43.

Thereupon the shaft -42 4and the disc 43 are rotated (clockwise, Fig. 9, counterclockwise, Fig. '7) bythe action of a spring 54 which is arranged upon the shaft 42. This action of the shaft 42 causes the cam v4I carried thereby `to engage the loweriend portion of the arm 40, thereby rocking the shaft Y2| (clockwise, Fig. 7), and in this manner pivoting the slotted latch member 36 Vfrom dotted yto lfull line position, Fig. 7, thus freeing lthe pin 39 from engagement in the -notch 38 and thereby freeing the coin slide 24 and associated parts for operation. -At the same time, this movement of `the shaft 2| (clockwise, Y'Fig. 7, counterclockwise, Figs. 2, 3 and 4) pivots the stop member 22 (counterclockwise, Figs. 2, 3 and-4) Sinto the dotted line position `of Fig. `3.

The latch lmember 25 then pivots lby 'gravity (counterclockwise, Figs. 2, 3 and 4) into the positionof Fig. 4 wherein it Iis held by engagement of the angled end portion 28 of the Alatch member 25 under the ,angled -end 'portion Y23 .of the stop member 22, the said stop lmember 22 being thus retained in .the position of Fig. 4, thereby ypreventing the 'stop member y2-2 and its supporting shaft 2l from Ireturning to the position of Fig. `2, Ythereby retaining -the slotted latch member I36 'in raised position, ias in dotted lines, Fig. 7, Aand thus permitting operation -o'f the coin slide 24 and associated parts, it being noted vthat lthe coin slide and associated `parts could not be operated if :the stop imem'ber 22 and shaft v2-l were allowed to pivot from their position of Fig. 4 into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, -immediately after the scoreprinting and web-severing operations, since in the latter position of the shaft 2| the slotted latch member 36 is disposedvin'horizontal position, as rin dotted lines, Fig. '7, and in this position of the parts `the lpin .39 is disposed ,in :the

notch 38, so that the coin slide 24' and associated parts could not be operated if the web-printing and severing operations were to take place prior to the time the last of a .predetermined number of balls allowed the player for each coin inserted into the coin slide 24 is played.

As the coin slide 24 and slide bar 32 are returned (by means of a spring, not shown) into coin-receiving position (left to right, Fig. 9) the pin 39 travels back into the notch portion 38 of the slot 31 in the latch member 36 (left to right, Fig. 9), and in this position prevents further operation of the coin slide 24 and associated parts until the last of the predetermined number of balls allowed the player is played. During this operation of retracting the coin slide 24 the shaft 2l and the stop member 22 are again rotated (clockwise, Figs 2, 3 and 4) into the position of Fig. 4, and as the player continues to operate the rotary elevator disc l5, and thereby elevate the remaining balls up to the level of the playing surface 55, the cam IS on the rotary elevator disc I5 eventually engages under the pin 26 carried by the latch member 25 and in so doing pivots the latter member 25 (clockwise, Figs. 2, 3 and 4) from the position of Fig. 4 into its initial position of Figs. 2 and 3.

The stop member then pivots by gravity into its full line position (Fig. 6) and in so doing, the angled end portion 23 of the stop member 22 engages in an offset or notched portion 12 of the latching lug 2&1 (Figs. 4 and 6). In this position of the parts the engagement of the arm 23 oi the stop member 22 i'n the notched or offset portion 'l2 of the lug 20 prevents further operation of the rotary elevator disc l5 (clockwise, Figs. 2, 3 and 4) but at the same time retains the latch member 36 in full line position of Fig. 'l so that the coin slide 24 may be operated, whereupon the stop member 22 is again pivoted (counterclockwise, Figs. 2, 3 and 4) and in so doing, rides out of the notched portion 12 of the lug 2D into position to engage the portion I3 of the same when the elevator disc I5 has made another revolution and the last ball has been played.

The possibility that the score-printing and web-severing operations may ntake place prior to the time the last ball has been played are materially reduced by the provision, in the present invention, of the double ratchet 62-53 and by reason of the additional fact that each of the arms 6| and 64 of the pawl or dog 60 engages only one of the ratchets whereas in our aforesaid patent, both arms 6I and 54 of the dog or pawl 60 engaged a single ratchet and had a tendency to wear out the teeth of the same and thereby increase the possibilities that the score-printing and web-severing operations might take place prior to the time the last of the predetermined number of balls has been played. 'I'his likelihood is materially decreased by the provision of the double ratchet 532-52, operating as hereinbefore set forth.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modication, without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus, thecombination of: a cabinet including a member providing a playing surface having ball exit or scoring openings therein; a score recording or printing drum in the cabinet; means for elevating balls one at a time from a point below the playing surface up to the level of the same; an inscription-receiving web in the cabinet; means automatically urging the said web into printing engagement with the said printing drum after a predetermined number of balls have been elevated by said elevating means from a point below the said playing surface up to the level of the same; a member slidably mounted in a wall of said cabinet; means normally latching the said slidable member against operation until the score-printing operation takes place; and means for releasing the said latching means from latching engagement with the said slidable member when the score-printing operation takes place.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a member providing a playing surface having ball exit or scoring openings therein; a score recording or printing drum in the cabinet; means for elevating balls one at a time from a point below the playing surface up to the level of the same; an inscription-receiving web in the cabinet; means for severing the printed portion of the web from the body of the same approximately at the time the score-printing operation takes place; means automatically urging the said web into printing engagement with the said printing drum after a predetermined number of balls have been elevated by said elevating means from a point below the said playing surface up to the level of the same; an operating member movably mounted upon a Wall of said cabinet; means normally latching the said operating member against operation until the web-severing operation takes place; and means for releasing the said latching means from latching engagement with said operating member when the web-severing operation takes place.

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a member providing a playing surface having ball exit or scoring openings therein; a score recording or printing drum in the cabinet; means for elevating balls one at a time from a point below the playing surface up to the level of the same; an inscription-receiving web in the cabinet; means for severing the printed portion of the web from the body of the same approximately at the time the scoreprinting and web-severing operations take place;

a member slidably mounted in a wall of said cabinet; means normally latching the said slidable member against operation until the scoreprinting and web-severing operations take place; and means for releasing the said latching means from latching engagement with said slidable member when the web-severing and score-print ing operations take place.

4. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a cabinet including a member providing a playing surface having ball exit or scoring openings therein; a score recording or printing drum in the cabinet; means for elevating balls one at a time from a point below the playing surface up to the level of the same; an inscription-receiving web in the cabinet; means automatically urging the said web into printing engagement with the lsaid printing .drum after la predetermined number of balls havey been elevated by said elevating 4means yfrom a. point below the said p1aying=surface11pto the level of the same; means for severing the printed portion of the web from the body of the same .after the scoreprinting and Web-severing .operations take place; a member slidably mounted in a wall of said cabinet; means vnormally' latchng the said slid'- able' member :against :operationuntil :the score- `printing and Web-severing'operation takes place; and .means Yfor Areleasing `the said A'lentcluing means from :the ilatching engagement with saidsldable member :aifer the score-printing vand web-severing operations take place.

CLAUDE R. KIRK. EDWARD E. lCOLLISQN. y 

